Col tempo e con la paglia si maturan le sorbe - Gaglier 1826

📜 Description
Antique etching engraved by Verico after a design by Gaglier, published in Florence by A. Tofani in 1826, illustrating the proverb “Col tempo e con la paglia si maturan le sorbe” (“With time and straw, medlars ripen”). The scene depicts an allegorical figure of Time, seated in the foreground with wings and a scythe, beside baskets and scattered medlars, while to the right a vendor leans from a window and a child approaches, establishing a connection between allegory and everyday life. The composition unfolds within an urban setting with architectural elements and a distant landscape, structured to contrast action and meaning through a clear, didactic arrangement. The engraved title below the image guides interpretation, emphasizing the moral concept of patience and gradual maturation. The etching technique defines contours and textures with precision, supporting the illustrative and narrative function of the image.

📚 Historical-artistic note
The print belongs to the “Nuova raccolta di 24 proverbi toscani rappresentati in figure con altrettanti illustrazioni morali,” a Florentine publication devoted to the visual interpretation of popular proverbs. Gaglier is responsible for the invention, while Verico executed the engraving, reflecting a collaborative production typical of early 19th-century printmaking. Published by A. Tofani, the work fits within the Tuscan tradition of illustrated moral literature, where imagery served both educational and narrative purposes.

🧾 Technical sheet
Type: antique print
Author / Maker: Gaglier
Designer / Engraver: Verico
Publisher / Printer: A. Tofani, Florence
Place: Florence
Period: 1826
Material: paper
Technique: etching
Subject / Title: “Col tempo e con la paglia si maturan le sorbe”
Edition: from “Nuova raccolta di 24 proverbi toscani rappresentati in figure con altrettanti illustrazioni morali (...)”
Dimensions: sheet 28 × 41.5 cm; plate 19.5 × 26.5 cm
Marks / inscriptions: engraved title below the image; inscriptions “Gaglier inv.” and “Verico fig. inc.”

🔍 Condition Report
Good overall condition, with occasional foxing and light moisture stains. Impression clear and composition well preserved.